I swam across." "Ma foi! Swam across! You have courage, mon gars;" and I saw that I had risen in his estimation.
"He swims like a fish and he has no fear," chirped Carette from her hiding-place.
"All the same, bon Dieu, the Gouliot is no pond," and he looked through me again.

"How old are you, mon gars ?" "Thirteen next year." "And what are you going to make of yourself when you grow up ?" "I don't know." "For boys of spirit there are always openings," he said, and I knew very well what he meant, and shook my head.
"Ah, so! You are not free-traders at Belfontaine," he laughed.

At which I shook my head again, feeling a trifle ashamed of our uncommon virtue, which could not, I thought, commend itself to so notorious a defier of preventive law.
"All the same, he is a fine man, your grandfather, and a seaman beyond most.

You will follow the sea ?--or are you for the farming ?" "The sea sure, but it will be in the trading, I expect." "It is larger than the farming, but not very large after all." "When will I be able to see Carette, m'sieur ?" "Not for ten days or so.

As soon as she is well enough I shall carry her over to Mistress Falla's.